Add examples for executing commands in new Windows Terminal tabs from WSL

[Copilot]

User reported inability to execute bash functions and commands in new Windows Terminal tabs from .bashrc, getting error 0x80070002. Documentation lacked clear examples for WSL command execution patterns.

Changes

• Added "Executing commands in new tabs" section with platform-specific examples (Command Prompt, PowerShell, Linux/WSL)
• WSL-specific guidance explaining why bash functions/aliases fail in new tabs and how to work around it
• Practical patterns for common use cases: sourcing .bashrc, keeping tabs open with exec bash, running scripts

Example

The user's failing pattern:

wt.exe -w 0 new-tab -p "ubuntu-22.04" -c function_in_my_bashrc_file
# Error: 0x80070002 - bash functions aren't directly accessible

Corrected approach now documented:

function launch_my_project() {
    # Source .bashrc to access functions
    cmd.exe /c "wt.exe" -w 0 new-tab --title "Daemon" -p "Ubuntu-22.04" \
        bash -c "source ~/.bashrc && my_daemon_function && exec bash"
    
    # Direct command execution
    cmd.exe /c "wt.exe" -w 0 new-tab --title "Server" -p "Ubuntu-22.04" \
        bash -c "cd ~/project && npm start"
}

Key insights documented:

• bash -c "command && exec bash" pattern to keep tabs open
• Bash functions require sourcing .bashrc in new shell sessions
• Alternative: extract logic to script files for direct execution

Original prompt

---

This section details on the original issue you should resolve

<issue_title>example needed to open new WT window and launch commands "within the new window"</issue_title>
<issue_description>### Type of issue

Missing information

Feedback

Great docs on opening new windows, love it.

However there are not clear examples on how to open a new window and have commands executed within that window specifically from .bashrc, before moving onto my next WT command. Referring specifically to this page: # Windows Terminal command ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/command-line-arguments?tabs=linux

Simple example - running Ubuntu 22.04, I have the following function defined in my .bashrc - I want it to open new tabs, and launch some processes in each tab.

function 1

opens multiple tabs needed to run project locally

function launch_nice_new_tabs_for_my_scripts() {
    wt.exe -w 0 new-tab --title window_01 --tabColor '#4d658d';
    wt.exe -w 0 new-tab --title window_02_client --tabColor '#468b76' -p "ubuntu-22.04-dev";
    wt.exe -w 0 new-tab --title window_03_daemon --tabColor '#7484a6' -p "ubuntu-22.04-dev";
    wt.exe -w 0 new-tab --title server --tabColor '#aa5f37' -p "ubuntu-22.04-dev";
    wt.exe focus-tab -t 1
}

function 2

opens multiple tabs needed to run project locally - but fails to launch any process

function launch_my_stuff_in_new_windows_v2() {

    wt.exe -w 0 new-tab --title window_01 --tabColor '#4d658d';
    wt.exe -w 0 new-tab --title window_02_client --tabColor '#468b76' -p "ubuntu-22.04-dev" -c function_in_my_bashrc_file;
    wt.exe -w 0 new-tab --title window_03_daemon --tabColor '#7484a6' -p "ubuntu-22.04-dev" -c another_function_in_my_bashrc;
    wt.exe -w 0 new-tab --title server --tabColor '#aa5f37' -p "ubuntu-22.04-dev" -c npm start;
    wt.exe focus-tab -t 1
}

function 2 -- launch_my_stuff_in_new_windows_v2 gives error:

error 2147942402 (0x80070002) when launching `function_in_my_bashrc_file']

All the other functions in my .bashrc work, and I'm able to run them directly from each of the new tabs I've been able to get a process launched in the original tab I called launch_my_stuff_in_new_windows from, but that's not the goal. I need separate processes launched in each tab.

ideas?

Page URL

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/command-line-arguments?tabs=linux

Content source URL

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/command-line-arguments?tabs=linux

Author

@nguyen-dows

Document Id

0d5d0fe3-01ef-66e8-263d-a0a7852ffa7a</issue_description>

Comments on the Issue (you are @copilot in this section)

• Fixes example needed to open new WT window and launch commands "within the new window" #744

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